For the inquisitive cyclist, our British countryside is
overflowing with a wealth of clues to our history and heritage. In addition to
our rich flora and fauna, each town and hamlet bears witness to lifestyles long
since past.

Pre-1883 NCU sign at North Rode, Cheshire

Consider the situation in the late 19th century, when the
majority of country roads in this country were composed of unbound stone
surfaces and presented a considerable hazard to the emerging breed of cyclists
on their high centre of gravity machines with primitive braking systems. Sign
posting was haphazard and consisted of milestones and finger posts found only on
the busiest highways. Disaster awaited the unwary cyclist if a steep hill was
encountered in unfamiliar territory.

Faced with these conditions, J George Jnr wrote to the newly
formed Bicycle Touring Club in 1878 on the need for signs to warn cyclists of
hazardous conditions ahead. It was later through the efforts of the Earl of
Albemarle, who became President of the National Cyclists' Union, that a start
was made in erecting a definitive system of warning boards. A rare example may
be found at North Rode, Congleton, Cheshire.

In 1883 the Cyclists' Touring Club agreed to share the cost
equally with the NCU of purchasing a stock of Danger boards. These remained the
common property of both bodies, with local

Ten years later the NCU found itself unable to meet its share
of the costs, so that in 1894 CTC assumed full responsibility and all new signs
thereafter bore only the subtitle 'Cyclists' Touring Club'

These signs were originally white lettering on a red
background. In 1897, on less severe hills, boards with 'To Cyclists ride with
Caution - Cyclists' Touring Club' were brought into use and had black letters on
a yellow background. Other forms of danger signs were later proposed but never
saw the light of day.

Vintage CTC 'Caution' Sign, Richmond Park, Surrey

In 1902 smaller stamped steel plate signs were introduced.
They were of two kinds: 'Danger - Cyclists' Touring Club' (White letter on a red
ground) and 'Caution - Cyclists' Touring Club' (white letters on blue ground).
Examples were to be seen at Dial on the Cape Wrath road, and in Richmond Park,
Surrey. The latter still exists and local CTC guidance has recently been sought
on its original colouring. The writer also has a transparency of a badly
corroded one near Tremadoc in the 50s - he wonders what happened to that one.

A survey in 1902 revealed that 2,331 Danger and 1,989 Caution
boards were in existence.

Invaluable for the traveller in unfamiliar territory

With the Motor Car Act of 1903 the demanding work of erecting
warning notices was transferred to county councils, but completion of this
process did not take place until 1909. Even after that time applications were
being received from local officials for new signs, replacements, or repair. New
standard road signs were introduced with the Road Traffic Act of 1930; the CTC
still provided a few new style signs with an inlaid club badge below a warning
triangle.

Erected throughout the country during the 1930s

One such sign was at Tattle Bank, Claverton, Warwickshire, and
was replaced with a modern triangular sign. CTC member Bob Kemp of Coventry
recovered one from a local corporation tip. Another ingenious move was made by
some Lothian DA members who replaced a rusted 'Caution' board with a facsimile
in aluminium. This may be seen on the south side of Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.

In 1956 the CTC did not contest the removal of its name from
the list of organisations permitted to erect road signs. In 1981 the concession
was restored, since when new signs have been used on several occasions.
Permission has been gained to erect a sign at London's Albert Gate crossing.

Entering into agreement with hotel proprietors for fixed and
moderate charges was not one of the CTC's original objectives, but was suggested
in Stanley Cotterell's letter of August 1878 to those signifying their intention
to join the Club. It was a great attraction to join the club as no list existed
of recommended hostelries.

By the issue of the Monthly Circular of February 1879 it had
been decided to list what were termed 'headquarters hotels' in important towns
in 'England and elsewhere'. Within two years 785 hotels were under contract with
set tariffs such as bed (two shillings) and breakfast with eggs (one shilling
and sixpence); some even provided special day rooms for the exclusive use of
Club members. Indeed some private signs were erected, some of which were
misleading, but until the CTC became incorporated in 1887 little could be done
to stop this infringement of the Club uniform and badge.

Probably the most elaborate private sign, shown in the book
'The Romance of the Cyclists' Touring Club', was at the King's Head, Kirkby
Stephen, Cumbria. It is believed this was possibly lost in the 1930s.

The Winged Wheel: this example is on what is now an
antiques shop in Bala

In 1883 large iron signs based on the club's winged wheel
badge were first issued. These were supplied on payment of a deposit and
therefore remained the property of the Club. In 1889 two distinct classes were
introduced: 'Headquarters', and at more moderate charges, 'Quarters'. Signs were
supplied with these descriptions added above the badge. Repairers' signs were
also issued. There is a register of these being compiled by Keith Mathews on http://www.wingedwheels.info/

In 1895, because of the disapproval of some proprietors,
discrimination between caterers was abolished but was not completely removed
until 1899, when existing contracts expired. New signs were issued without the
type of establishment being marked.

Between the two World Wars 20'' square embossed CTC plate
signs were provided. Interestingly, during this period, which saw the growth in
importance of the motorcar, motoring organisations also began to install road
signs. Indeed in the 1920s the Royal Scottish Automobile Club erected signs,
made of wood for economy, which aimed to remind motorists to warn of their
approach. It comprised the word TOOT, cut out from a board, and reading the same
from either side. This meant that only one sign was necessary for each location.
But unlike CTC signs, few, if any of these, are likely to have survived.

After the Second World War, CTC continued to use enamel signs.
Self-adhesive plastic signs for windows began to be introduced, however; but as
late as the 1970s a 16'' diameter circular enamelled metal sign was still
replacing the square one.

In later years the official CTC logo has changed, although
such is the affection for the old 'Winged Wheels', it continues to be used in
special circumstances. The original cast iron signs were made to last, but
surely there can be few towns or villages where two original cast iron signs may
be seen a few paces apart, as is the case at Rhuddlan, Denbighshire. Each must
be well over a century old.

Roy Spilsbury May 2005

Now - NEW INN, Rhuddlan 2005

Then - NEW INN, Rhuddlan c1900

This Winged Wheel is located less than 100 yds from the
New Inn at Rhuddlan. It constitutes the only example in the UK of two
plaques in the same street. Even two in the same town is very rare. Now
a private house, this was once an inn serving the needs of this former
busy quayside, where vessels up to 100 tons docked. Note the plaque at
some point in its history has swivelled out of true.

Pride of place for a square enamel CTC Winged Wheel.
Discovered on a barn at Glyndyfrydwy, Denbighshire

A CTC Winged Wheel 'Repairer' sign (right). Formerly located on the
premises of Jones and Son, Conwy. These signs are now extremely rare.
Only one example is currently known to exist in Wales.

The same winged wheel on Castle Street, Conwy, shown in
the previous photo. This was taken on 25th Aug 1909 on the occasion of
the presentation to the ex-mayor of the town, Dr R A Prichard, of a
new-fangled motor car

Llanberis circa 1920

Bala circa 1920: one of these two signs can still be
seen in Bala High Street

The Mountain View Hotel, Mochdre 1905.
No evidence is available of the circumstances of when, or for what
reason, this Winged Wheel sign was removed.

Bont Ddu Halfway House, near Dolgellau. Winged Wheel
not visible, but likely to have been seen from another angle.

The Queen's, Cerrig-y-Drudion

Cerrig-y-Drudion hotel

An unofficial CTC sign, Rhianva apartments, Trefriw
circa 1910

Pont-y-Pair Hotel, Betws-y-Coed

White Lion Hotel, Bala: In 1888 CTC began awarding Winged Wheel plaques
to denote 'appointment' status. Both before and after that year, some
hotels and catering establishments used the intiials 'CTC'without
consent. This practice persisted into the 1930s.

Castle Hotel, Bangor, Gwynedd:

Daniel Irwen writes:- This was a CTC
Headquarters. It was situated on the High Street, opposite the
Cathederal. It was demolished about 1995 and replaced with a Littlewoods
store, and later New Look.

The CTC logo in the window of the Blue Moon Cafe, Chester, is the
direct descendant of the CTC Winged Wheel. This friendly bunch are
members of the Seamons Cycling Club, Altrincham, Cheshire.

Letter in CTC Gazette, October
1938

The author gratefully acknowledges source material from an
article by the late Karl Briggs, published in the former CTC journal 'Cycletouring'
in June/July 1983. Also thanks to Prestatyn historian, Harry Thomas, for the use
of the vintage image of the NEW INN.

For the UK index of
sightings of the Cyclists Touring Club 'Winged Wheels' , CLICKhere.

See also the restoration and
re-dedication
of a rare Repairers Winged Wheel at Corwen in 2008